THE “ETHICAL ELEPHANT”

IN THE CLINICAL ROOM:

DEMYSTIFYING FINANCIAL AND

ECONOMIC DIVERSITY

Friday, October 9, 2015

1 pm – 4 pm

Presenter: Martha Childers, LPC

School of Social Welfare, KU Edwards Campus

Professional and Community Education Program

INTRODUCTIONS:

Instructor

Attendees

OBJECTIVES:

Recognize beliefs about the meaning of money,

understand the origins of such beliefs, and

analyze the ethical implications for ourselves and

our clients.

OBJECTIVES:

Analyze and assess social and economic classes,

identify impacts on beliefs and behaviors, and

recognize how self-knowledge in these areas can

help avoid imposing counselor values on the

client.

OBJECTIVES:

Explore fees, sliding scales, and other financial

dilemmas and the effect on clinical relationships

in a multicultural environment.

THE MEANING OF MONEY

Break into small groups:

Choose a spokesperson

Explore thoughts about the meaning of money

Spokesperson from each group briefly shares

group’s finding

THE MEANING OF MONEY

Presenter wraps up with additional information

Prestige • Safety and security • Success • Power

• Control • Adequacy • Self-worth • Competence

• Commitment • Love • Feeling loved and

accepted • Caring • Acceptance in society •

Acknowledgement of relationship

THE ORIGINS OF BELIEFS ABOUT MONEY

Pair up to share first memory of money

A couple of willing individuals share experience

THE ORIGINS OF BELIEFS ABOUT MONEY

Personal qualities

Personal characteristics and cognitions

Personal history

Social class (Falconier, 2011)

THE ORIGINS OF BELIEFS ABOUT MONEY

Personal qualities: Spending styles . Risk

tolerance . Financial management styles .

Financial maturity . Gender commitment .

Boundary setting . Trust . Power dynamics .

Financial maturity . Financial management

styles . Beliefs and the meaning of gift exchange

and gift-giving behaviors . Status . Previous

relationships . Communication patterns .

Perception of “ownership” . Ideology

THE ORIGINS OF BELIEFS ABOUT MONEY

Personal characteristics and cognitions: tendency

toward catastrophic thinking, view of partner’s

trustworthiness, collaborative vs. selfish and

controlling, stable vs. impulsive

THE ORIGINS OF BELIEFS ABOUT MONEY

Personal history: economic hardship in childhood,

family-of-origin financial histories

THE ORIGINS OF BELIEFS ABOUT MONEY

Social class, which affects: education, income,

financial security, career development and

occupation, nutrition, health, longevity, social

networks, attitudes about work, social mobility,

and values

THE ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR

CLINICIAN AND CLIENTS

Group discussion on the ethical effects of provider

and client beliefs about money and the origin of

those beliefs on the clinical relationship and

payment for services

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CLASSES

Social classes (America): Rich, Middle, Poor

Determinants of class: wealth, income, education,

occupation, membership in subculture or social

network

Effects of social class: education, etiquette,

income, financial security, career development

and occupation, language usage, nutrition, social

networks, attitudes about work, social mobility,

and values

IDENTIFY HOW SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CLASS

IMPACTS BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS

Using cases as examples, the group will explore

the impact of beliefs and behaviors resulting from

social and economic classes

Break

RECOGNIZE HOW SELF-KNOWLEDGE HELPS TO

AVOID IMPOSING COUNSELOR VALUES ON THE

CLIENT.

Break into small groups:

Identify a spokesperson

Discuss ideas on this topic

A spokesperson from each group gives a short

summary of findings

Presenter summarizes and presents additional

information

EXPLORE FEES, SLIDING SCALES, AND OTHER

FINANCIAL DILEMMAS AND THE EFFECT ON

CLINICAL RELATIONSHIPS IN A MULTICULTURAL

ENVIRONMENT.

Group discussion: What is a multicultural

environment?

Individuals share own financial dilemmas and

the effect on their own clinical multicultural

relationships

OVERVIEW OF ETHICAL CONCERNS

Continuing the discussion, the group will explore

ethical considerations.

WRAP-UP

FURTHER READING

Online Resources:

Barrett Values Center – Personal Values Assessment: http://www.valuescentre.com/pva/

Childers, M. (2014, October). Couples and Money: The Last Taboo. Presentation at the

5th Annual Conference of the Financial Therapy Association, Nashville, TN.

http://www.childerscounselingservice.com/resources/

Online Budgeting - https://www.mint.com/

Books and Articles:

Falconier, M. K., & Epstein, N. B. (2011). Couples experiencing financial strain: What

we know and we can do. Family Relations, 60, 303-317.

Furnham, A. (2014). The New psychology of money. New York: Routledge.

Kinder, G. (1999). Seven stages of money maturity: Understanding the spirit and value of

money in your life. New York: Delacorte Press.

Kobliner, Beth. (2009). Get a financial life: Personal finance in your twenties and thirties

(3rd ed.) New York: Simon & Schuster.

Mellan, O. (1994). Money harmony: Resolving money conflicts in your life and

relationships. New York: Walker.

Robin, V., Dominguez, J., & Tilford, M. (2008). Your money or your life: 9 steps to

transforming your relationship with money and achieving financial independence (Rev.

and updated). New York: Penguin.

Martha Childers, LPC

816-830-3181

martha@childerscounselingservice.com

www.ChildersCounselingsService.com